Shloka 26
उपदेशदोषप्रसङ्गः (Upadeśa-doṣa-prasaṅgaḥ) — The Risk of Misapplied Counsel
एवं सुबहुशस्तस्य शूद्रस्थ भरतर्षभ । सोडगच्छदाश्रममृषि: शूद्रं द्रष्ट नरर्षभ
evaṁ subahuśas tasya śūdrāśramaṁ bharatarṣabha | so ’dṛcchad āśramam ṛṣiḥ śūdraṁ draṣṭuṁ nararṣabha ||
毗湿摩说道：“婆罗多族中的雄牛啊，那位圣者为欲见那首陀罗，多次前往其精舍。其后，他以和悦可亲之言，询问那首陀罗来此的缘由与经过。自此以后，那位光辉卓绝、秉持正法、坚守苦行誓戒的仙人，屡屡来到首陀罗的居处，只为与他相会。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharmic conduct expressed through humility, repeated respectful engagement, and courteous inquiry. A sage’s willingness to visit a Śūdra’s hermitage and speak agreeably underscores that righteousness is shown in behavior—hospitality, openness, and ethical regard—rather than mere status.
Bhishma narrates that an unnamed sage repeatedly goes to the Śūdra’s hermitage to meet him. Afterward, the sage speaks kindly and asks about how and why the Śūdra came there, and from then on continues visiting him many times.